CPL Architecture | Hollins West Dorm Renovation

The Hollins West Dorm renovation was an exciting project to photograph for CPL Architecture. I love working in historic spaces, and this one presented a unique set of challenges.

The first was the exterior. The front of the building was heavily covered by mature trees, which limited the number of clean compositions available. The landscape design was also incomplete at the time of the shoot, with portions of the grounds still roped off and several dirt mounds surrounding the building.

Fortunately, we had slightly overcast conditions, which gave me enough flexibility to capture sections of the surrounding grass and landscape that I could later easily composite into select exterior frames.

The interiors presented a different challenge. The spaces were largely complete, but there was very little artwork or decor on the walls, and most rooms contained only the primary furniture pieces. CPL’s team, including lead designer Stuart and lead architect Ariana, worked to bring in additional decor and coordinate four student volunteers to help bring the spaces to life.

The students were wonderful to work with—fun, bright, comfortable with one another, and completely natural in front of the camera. Their presence helped us create imagery that went beyond documenting the design itself.

Our goal was to showcase the key architectural and interior features while also communicating what it might feel like to live there: welcoming, social, comfortable, and connected. We wanted a prospective student to be able to look at the photographs and imagine having those same kinds of experiences with friends at school.

The areas we focused on included the stairwell, dorm room, open office, corridor, student lounge, kitchen, and bathroom.

If you're looking for photography that showcases the design, function, and human experience of student housing, I'd welcome the opportunity to collaborate. Let's connect and discuss how we can tell the story of your next project.